Pax is a Latin word which means peace. In politics, it is used to represent a period of relative peace within a certain geographical area,though the extent of geographical area may vary from time to time. Certain powers have, over the course of history, preserved the peace of specific regions.

Stating it in simple terms, a ‘political pax’ is an attempt to maintain the status quo by the dominant power.

Pax Romana is the best example of such a system . It was the long period of relative peace and minimal expansion by military force experienced by the Roman Empire in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Since it was established by Caesar Augustus it is sometimes called Pax Augusta. Its span was approximately 207 years (27 BC to 180 AD).

Other historically significant eras of peace established by the major powers in past include Pax Hispanica, Pax Ottomana & Pax Britannica.

According to many political thinkers of our times, we are living in the age of Pax Americana. This peace, very much like its predecessors, has not been global. It has been more of a Euro-Atlantic Peace. The rest of the world, Middle East in particular, has seen its share of conflicts.

The roots of Pax Americana can be traced back to the end of Second World War. Since then no major battle has been witnessed on American or West European soil. It is rightly believed that the impact of U.S. military, economic, and political power has been responsible for this.

However, now the decline of absolute power of USA in world affairs, as it once was, is evident.

Why decline of USA as sole super power is inevitable?

Seeing the current trends, although USA will no longer be the sole super power of the world but it will still be the most powerful state in a multi-polar world, at least for a foreseeable future.

Following points will endorse the above statement.

1) China is all set to overtake US as the economic engine of the world. According to IMF, by the end of 2014, China’s share of world GDP would equal the US share which is 18% of world GDP. China is also expected to become the world’s largest economy by the close of this decade.

2) Due to lengthening financial crisis, USA will not be able to support its mighty war machine in the future. This will lead to a drop in the political clout of Washington. In 2012, the Economist projected that China’s defence spending may equal that of USA by the year 2025.

3) With the continuing trend of rising ambitious regional players like China, Russia, India, Brazil, Turkey and Indonesia, the American sphere of influence in the backyard of these countries will reduce.

4) Although European Union is seen by many as an ally of the USA, it has started to tread its own path, lately. Rifts within NATO further aggravated the situation. Euro is seen by the Americans as a threat to the previously unchallenged dominance of dollar in the world market. Many European nations have a suspicious attitude towards Britain, owing to her seemingly unconditional support of USA in global affairs. With the termination of the danger of Soviet expansion into Western Europe, the only way NATO could have functioned optimally was by the rise of a new threat. War against Terrorism provided the NATO Alliance a new lease of life but after the fiascoes in Afghanistan and Iraq, now the future of NATO as a peace preserver hangs in the balance.

5) Although Eastern Europe was not always a part of the Pax Americana, but after the collapse of USSR and NATO's expansion, it was thought to be under American guarantee of peace. However, the current crisis in Ukraine has disrupted the relative calm in that arena. After the Orange Revolution in Ukraine(2004-05), Kiev leaned towards the West, leaving the Russian camp. The missile defence shield in Poland was another bone of contention between the Moscow and the West. The recent events especially the annexation of Crimea by Russia has raised many questions. Does being in the Western Camp ensure security? Can America and her allies cross the red line to safeguard the interests of a pro-Western government?

6) Although Pax Americana does not extend to the Middle East but if that region is in flames, it has implications for USA. America has failed time and again to bring long lasting peace to Mid East. Russia’s stand for Al-Assad’s regime prevented any action by NATO on the side of rebels. Assad even got away with use of chemical weapons. The sectarian violence in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon bears testimony to the US failures in that part of the world. This is a blot on the American claims of world leadership.

7) IMF and World Bank are the symbols of Post World War 2 Era and thus they represent American ascendancy in economic field. However, new challenges have arisen to that dominant financial status of USA. Some initiatives have been taken by resourceful players. On 15 July, 2014, BRICS set up a new bank by the name of BRICS Development Bank or The New Development Bank. This may serve as an alternative to the World Bank and IMF in future. Organizations like the SCO and BRICS may prove to be a counterpart to American led orgnizations.

8) US President Barack Obama’s Pivot to East Policy was announced to secure American interests in a region that is being directly influenced by the rise of Chinese Power. On the surface, it seems that America will strengthen its ties with countries that are at odds with China. However, due to the weaknesses of Washington over the crises in Syria and Ukraine, America’s East Asian allies are beginning to lose faith in American support. Moreover, America’s Western Allies are not completely on board over this strategy. Many European countries have some economic reliance on China as China is a major trading partner of many EU nations.The economies of USA and Australia also have much Chinese influence.

9) Throughout history, internal causes have played a greater role than the external ones, in the destruction of a great power. America’s internal debt crisis, the war weariness, the collapse of American dream, growth of violence in society, homeland security issues, loss of civil liberty etc. are a few problems that America is grappling with at the home front.

America’s fall from the status of the lone superpower is the talk of town these days. But, the Pax Americana, as we know it today may remain entact in the years to come. The US and her Western European partners will remain strong enough to maintain peace in their neighbourhood. But, they may not be able to enforce their terms on rest of the world.